Candidates differ on when to stake campaign signs

Published: Tuesday, August 6, 2013 at 5:00 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, August 6, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.

Update:

Mayoral candidate Ron Stephens, who currently serves on Hendersonville City Council, announced Wednesday morning that he supports Jeff Miller's plan to delay the staking of campaign signs.

“There is plenty of time between now and when early voting begins for all of us to get our signs out," Stephens said in a prepared statement. "Waiting until after the Apple Festival and the holiday weekend will be a good thing in terms of having our City looking its best, and I certainly will comply with Jeff's request to do just that."

Stephens added that he hoped the others in Hendersonville races will get on board with the idea.

Original story:

Jeff Miller, a candidate for Hendersonville City Council, has challenged other candidates and their friends to abstain from staking campaign signs along city streets until after the Apple Festival. But some candidates fear they may miss a golden opportunity on a weekend when thousands will be downtown to remind citizens to vote.

“I want to encourage all participants in Hendersonville elections to bear in mind the best interest of city residents and business owners and refrain from putting out campaign signs until Tuesday following the Labor Day weekend,” Miller said. “There will be many visitors in our area for the holiday and for our annual Apple Festival and, while the signs are important to us, our city will be much more attractive without them during that special time.”

Former City Councilman Ralph Freeman, who is running for one of two open seats on the council, said he thought Miller's idea “might be a good gesture, but I don't think it's practical... I think it's part of the political process.”

Freeman said that if candidates wait until Sept. 3 to place their signs, they could miss the chance to reach a lot of voters. If they wait, candidates will only have 16 days to advertise their bid before voting begins Sept. 19 for the primary election.

Freeman said he doesn't plan to stake any signs along Main Street. But, he added, he will not tell merchants who wish to support him with signs in their windows to take them down for the Apple Festival. He said he'll “leave that up to the individual supporter.”

Miller said he was told an ordinance allows for political signs to be placed no sooner than 30 days before the beginning of early voting for the primary, which starts Sept. 19. For the city's primary, that would mean signs could be legally distributed beginning Aug. 20.

According to North Carolina general statutes, signs can be placed in the right-of-ways of state highways beginning Aug. 20.

But the rule for other signs staked along city streets is 60 days before early voting, not 30, according to City Zoning Administrator Susan Frady.

“The date to begin placing signs in the city was July 21,” she said.

Some signs for Freeman and incumbent candidates Jeff Collis and Jerry Smith have already sprouted along Grove Street — a city street.

“I appreciate Mr. Miller's offer, but I don't display signs on right of ways, usually, due to the fact they cost too much to me to avoid the risk being stolen or damaged,” Collis said. “This will be my fourth campaign for City Council during this time of year and although roadways littered with campaign signs may be unattractive, I will leave the decision to remove them up to the people that have already placed them on their private property.

“I understand Mr. Miller has been involved in U.S. Congressional campaigns, but City Council campaigns don't do anything near the volume of signage those require.”

Smith said all candidates were made aware of state and local sign ordinances in a letter from the city dated July 24.

“All candidates had an opportunity to discuss this issue at the Aug. 1 candidate information meeting hosted by city officials. No candidate raised this issue at the meeting,” he said. “As a current member of City Council and candidate for re-election, I recommend that we follow the rules in place for the 2013 municipal elections.”

Smith added, “many residents are already displaying signs in their yards in accordance with state and local laws.”

Although staking them in some city yards now is allowed, Miller wishes candidates would wait.

“I'm just suggesting that we ‘self-regulate' in the interest of helping our city put its best foot forward,” he said.

“It's extremely important to remind people there is an election going on,” Freeman countered.

Residents will have two city elections to vote in this year — a primary on Oct. 8 and a general election Nov. 5.

<p><i>Update:</i></p><p>Mayoral candidate Ron Stephens, who currently serves on Hendersonville City Council, announced Wednesday morning that he supports Jeff Miller's plan to delay the staking of campaign signs.</p><p>“There is plenty of time between now and when early voting begins for all of us to get our signs out," Stephens said in a prepared statement. "Waiting until after the Apple Festival and the holiday weekend will be a good thing in terms of having our City looking its best, and I certainly will comply with Jeff's request to do just that."</p><p> </p><p>Stephens added that he hoped the others in Hendersonville races will get on board with the idea.</p><p><i>Original story:</i></p><p>Jeff Miller, a candidate for Hendersonville City Council, has challenged other candidates and their friends to abstain from staking campaign signs along city streets until after the Apple Festival. But some candidates fear they may miss a golden opportunity on a weekend when thousands will be downtown to remind citizens to vote. </p><p>“I want to encourage all participants in Hendersonville elections to bear in mind the best interest of city residents and business owners and refrain from putting out campaign signs until Tuesday following the Labor Day weekend,” Miller said. “There will be many visitors in our area for the holiday and for our annual Apple Festival and, while the signs are important to us, our city will be much more attractive without them during that special time.”</p><p>Former City Councilman Ralph Freeman, who is running for one of two open seats on the council, said he thought Miller's idea “might be a good gesture, but I don't think it's practical... I think it's part of the political process.”</p><p>Freeman said that if candidates wait until Sept. 3 to place their signs, they could miss the chance to reach a lot of voters. If they wait, candidates will only have 16 days to advertise their bid before voting begins Sept. 19 for the primary election.</p><p>Freeman said he doesn't plan to stake any signs along Main Street. But, he added, he will not tell merchants who wish to support him with signs in their windows to take them down for the Apple Festival. He said he'll “leave that up to the individual supporter.”</p><p>Miller said he was told an ordinance allows for political signs to be placed no sooner than 30 days before the beginning of early voting for the primary, which starts Sept. 19. For the city's primary, that would mean signs could be legally distributed beginning Aug. 20. </p><p>According to North Carolina general statutes, signs can be placed in the right-of-ways of state highways beginning Aug. 20. </p><p>But the rule for other signs staked along city streets is 60 days before early voting, not 30, according to City Zoning Administrator Susan Frady. </p><p>“The date to begin placing signs in the city was July 21,” she said.</p><p>Some signs for Freeman and incumbent candidates Jeff Collis and Jerry Smith have already sprouted along Grove Street — a city street. </p><p>“I appreciate Mr. Miller's offer, but I don't display signs on right of ways, usually, due to the fact they cost too much to me to avoid the risk being stolen or damaged,” Collis said. “This will be my fourth campaign for City Council during this time of year and although roadways littered with campaign signs may be unattractive, I will leave the decision to remove them up to the people that have already placed them on their private property. </p><p>“I understand Mr. Miller has been involved in U.S. Congressional campaigns, but City Council campaigns don't do anything near the volume of signage those require.”</p><p>Smith said all candidates were made aware of state and local sign ordinances in a letter from the city dated July 24.</p><p>“All candidates had an opportunity to discuss this issue at the Aug. 1 candidate information meeting hosted by city officials. No candidate raised this issue at the meeting,” he said. “As a current member of City Council and candidate for re-election, I recommend that we follow the rules in place for the 2013 municipal elections.”</p><p>Smith added, “many residents are already displaying signs in their yards in accordance with state and local laws.”</p><p>Although staking them in some city yards now is allowed, Miller wishes candidates would wait.</p><p>“I'm just suggesting that we 'self-regulate' in the interest of helping our city put its best foot forward,” he said.</p><p>“It's extremely important to remind people there is an election going on,” Freeman countered. </p><p>Residents will have two city elections to vote in this year — a primary on Oct. 8 and a general election Nov. 5.</p><p>Reach Weaver at emily.weaver@blueridgenow.com or 828-694-7867.</p>